In 1995 Miguel Indurain scored his last significant victory when he won the world time trial championships in Tunja, Colombia. Little did he know that a five-year-old from the same Boyaca region was taking his first pedal strokes on a used mountain bike. And little did anyone know that Nairo Quintana’s first outings on his bike would one day take him to the Tour de France.

But today on Stage 8 of this year’s Tour, the 23-year old Quintana demonstrated that he may well be the most promising climber of his generation when he powered away on the Pailheres Pass in the Pyrenees. And although Chris Froome and his all-powerful Sky team chased the Tour de France rookie down, his attack clearly made a lasting impression on the peloton. Climbing effortlessly, he eventually finished ninth, capturing the white jersey awarded to the best young rider.

“Today was a dream come true,” Quintana said after the race. “For awhile I thought I might even win, but in the end I didn’t have the strength left and there was nothing I could do against Sky.”

For many here at the Tour, Quintana’s attack confirmed the immense promise he has shown in recent years, and a talent that the pack will have to come to terms with in years to come.

Quintana first surfaced on the professional bike radar when he upset American Andrew Talansky in the 2010 Tour de l’Avenir. “I followed Nairo for years,” Gilbert Chocce, his director at the time, told Bicycling before the start of Stage 8 in Castres. A Colombian who has lived in France for decades, he is the manager of the Colombia es Pasion team that focuses on bringing promising Colombians to Europe.

“Nairo instantly showed himself to be a tremendous climber,” says Chocce. “But he also had some good time trials. That’s how he won the Tour de l’Avenir. But most importantly he has the head.”

“He’s just a pure Colombian climber,” Talansky says. “He can attack and explode the race any time, anywhere.”

Growing up in rural Colombia, Quintana had no knowledge of professional cycling. His parents maintained a stand at a fruit and vegetable market, and he would often sell the produce with his father door-to-door. “I didn’t know Miguel Indurain or any other professionals,” Quintana says. “We didn’t have a television.”

At first his mountain bike was simply the only way he could get to school. Living at 3,000 meters of altitude, he would ride 18 kilometers down the mountain each morning, before climbing back up in the afternoon.

“Finally my father encouraged me to sign up for a local race and I loved it,” Quintana says. “I just love the competition.

(James Startt)

“Nairo is different than all other Colombians I have seen racing in Europe,” says Spanish journalist Benito Urraburu. “ He is a real thinker. He came here to race his bike and it doesn’t matter if it is freezing cold, he is going to do the best he can. He is always analyzing, always thinking about racing. He is very good tactically.”

“He has never forgotten where he came from,” Chocce adds. He comes from the country, from real poverty. He knows that, thanks to cycling, he has the opportunity to do something different.”

Movistar brought Quintana into this year’s race as a key support rider for Alejandro Valverde, who finished a strong third today behind Froome and his teammate Richie Porte. But the team understands that to destabilize Sky, riders must attack. And as Quintana demonstrated today, he is ready for duty.

“The first week of the Tour allowed me to see just how big the Tour is, not just in the racing but everything, the media, everything,” Quintana says. “It’s been crazy. I crashed and hit both knees, but I feel good. I am excited. Once the road goes up I am happy.”

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